Plain of Sorrows

Author: Milady Dragon

Disclaimers: don't own it, never can…

Author's notes: Life has retreated back into the little hole I like to stuff it in, and here's the next chapter!


Chapter Thirty-Eight

Morgan felt incredibly tired, but there wasn't a damned thing he could do about it, not with the voice in charge.

He tried to fight with every step he took, but the voice was too strong. Just when he'd thought he'd found a chink to force control back to himself, the voice would just laugh and fill in the hole. It was so frustrating, knowing that he wasn't able to strike back against it!

And what was worse, he wasn't alone. True Danziger was with him.

The girl ran along beside him, her face pale with exhaustion. She kept her eyes straight ahead, but the one time he'd caught a glimpse of her eyes, they'd been…changed. They were cat-like, and Morgan wondered if his was the same.

He could "hear" two voices now: his own, and a girl's, conversing with each other as if Morgan and True didn't even exist.

Why are you panicking? the girl's voice asked, surprised. There is nothing they can do to stop us.

We cannot be certain of that. Morgan's own voice sounded pensive. These people are different from us. It could be that they might find a way to force us out of these minds.

But that is not the only reason we are heading toward the ship?

No. The voice imparted the gist of what Devon and Danziger has said.

You are right, commander. This could indeed be a danger to our existence. I am sorry I questioned your decision.

No need to apologize, child. There are things you do not know.

And the reason you left our brother behind?

Morgan suddenly remembered there was one more of them at camp: the one in control of Walman. What was it capable of doing, if something happened to these two?

He gathered all his strength, to make another attempt to shake off his controller. But, as he was going to try once more, he overheard something that made him pause.

If the weak ones know of this connection between the ship and our cage, will they not try to destroy it themselves?

That is my concern, yes. The voice known as the commander paused, and Morgan could tell it was trying to decide just how much he wanted his subordinate to know. Your once-father has the skill needed to make that happen. I would think he would use that knowledge if it meant keeping us prisoner.

Even though it could conceivably end the others existences as well?

You know our enemies, child. You know what they are capable of.

Of course. They are desperate, and would do anything.

So Danziger's ghosts wouldn't hesitate to stop these two? Well, good for them!

He realized then, that he'd have to wait. To pick the right time to make his move. He wondered if True was trying to fight back against her possessor as well. Morgan wished he could somehow communicate with her…

Wait a minute. If he could hear the being controlling True, could she hear his? Would she be getting the same information he was?

Would the link that allowed him to hear also allow him to talk to True?

It was worth a try.

Morgan knew he was no mental giant, but that didn't mean he couldn't make it work somehow. He felt around with his mind, trying to find the link between himself and his voice. It wasn't hard to locate: the voice didn't need to hide just how strong it was anymore, didn't have to worry about Morgan rejecting it. He wondered vaguely why it hadn't just taken over immediately. Maybe it had to infiltrate first, gain a foothold; then it could take over. He got the distinct impression that the voice hadn't wanted to do it so soon. It had mentioned something about tonight being the time.

Another thing to think about…

He'd never be able to describe what the link looked like; such things were beyond the realm of human comprehension. But there, in his mind, it was as solid as matter, as strong as space-toughened steel. He touched it carefully, not wanting to give himself away…not that it mattered. The voice was supremely confident in its control of him, and acted as if it didn't care what Morgan did. Could he use that link to reach True?

Morgan explored a little longer. His physical body was near collapse, and the closer it became to exhaustion the easier the link seemed to touch. He could sense beyond his own mind; the barrier between his physical form and whatever lay beyond himself was fading. It scared him silly. What happened if he couldn't get back?

It was a risk, but Morgan knew if he had an ally, together they might be able to throw off the control of these voices, to regain their own wills once more.

He thought of Bess. He loved his wife more than anything, even more than his own life. She was the one thing that kept him going, on this world where he was so out of his depth. He'd do whatever it took to save her; after all, if these two voices completed whatever plan they'd come up with, then Bess would be in grave danger.

With a vision of his beloved Bess firmly before him, Morgan stepped across the barrier.